If You Want My vote in 2010 and 2012

Politics has gotten so surrealistic lately that I’m totally fed up with BOTH parties.  The majority of politicians today are interested in only one thing – how far will this take me and what can I do with it.  We no longer have representatives in government that remember they are there because they were elected to represent The People at that level of government.  They weren’t hired to represent their political party.  They weren’t hired to represent the unions.  They weren’t hired to represent the President.  Their sole job was to know what their constituents wanted and vote that way when bills were created and brought up for a vote.  They were elected to uphold the law, whether it is local, State, or Federal, but few stand firm.  They were elected to represent the values and morals of the people that put them in office, but still fewer do.

If a politician wants my vote in 2010 and 2012, they must meet these requirements:

(a)     They are honest to a fault.  They avoid even the perception of impropriety.  They obey all laws and they pay their taxes on time and in the correct amounts.  They follow through on their campaign promises.  If they say they are “Pro-life” they do not compromise and support a pro-abortion bill to get something in another area.  If they say they are in favor of States rights, they do not support a single piece of legislation that takes powers form the States that rightfully belong there.

(b)    They will be a rabid fiscal conservative.  They will not vote for a single piece of legislation that requires the government to borrow money to meet the budget.  They will demand that no foreign aid be given out while the U.S. government has a national debt (especially if the U.S. government has to borrow money to operate).  They will demand that a minimum of 10 percent of the national debt be retired annually, as a portion of the annual Federal budget.  They will champion a complete revision of the Federal income tax to a Flat Tax of no more than 10 percent of a person’s, family’s or business’s income.  They will ensure that no U.S. taxpayer tax money is spent on benefits, services, or education for illegal aliens/illegal immigrants, except in the case of providing emergency medical care prior to deportation.  They will refuse to allow any pork into the federal budget.  They will not allow tax money to be used to bribe or otherwise sway a member of Congress to vote in a specific way.  All distribution of money to the States will be based solely on the population of the States, with no more going any State than is contributed by tax sources in that State, except in the case of an emergency (e.g., disaster recovery).  They will not give The People’s money to private corporations for bail outs; they will let the free market work and those that fail will fail.

(c)     They will ensure the passage of laws to secure the nation’s borders and enforce laws that keep foreign nationals from entering this country without the proper authorizations.  They will ensure that all illegal immigrants are expeditiously deported, without exception. They will enforce laws to keep track of and deport aliens whose visas have expired.  They will stop any attempts to give illegal immigrants amnesty to make them citizens of this country.  All foreign immigrants will only have one route to citizenship – to apply for visas and work on citizenship while a legal resident.  Those who are here illegally must be deported.

(d)    They will work diligently to return those governmental functions to the States that belong to the States in accordance with the U.S. constitution.  Care for people (education, medical, housing, retirement, welfare, etc.), as well as all funds to accomplish this that were previously collected by the Government, will reside with the States where those citizens reside.  The Federal government will retain responsibilities for protecting the nation, coordinating interstate commerce so that there are no interstate trade impediments, and maintaining military bases, national parks, etc.  Their goal will be to shrink the size and oversight of the Federal government.

(e)     They will fight for the return of the citizen legislator.  They will champion legislation that imposes term limits of 6 years on any member of Congress.  It is time to rid Congress of career politicians who gain too much sway, who owe too many favors, and who deal with personal power politics rather than representation of The People.

I realize that what I am asking of a person running for office is not easy.  It requires true character, honesty and selflessness.  I may not find it in those who run for office.  However, these are the things I have seen most conservatives want from their representatives.  We should work to find those who fit this mold and encourage them to serve.